BBC Chair Says ‘Gaza: How To Survive A Warzone’ Saga Is “Dagger To The Heart” Of Impartiality

deadline.com:

BBC Chair Samir Shah has labeled the Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone controversy a “dagger to the heart” of BBC impartiality, as he urged a “proper independent review” of the corporation’s Middle East conflict coverage.

Shah, who is understood to have been left extremely frustrated by the situation that has played out over the past 10 days, did not hold back this morning when speaking to the Culture, Media & Sport Committee (CMSC) about the immense damage caused to the 100-year-old pubcaster by the under-fire doc. “I agree that this is a really bad moment,” Shah said. “What has been revealed is a dagger to the heart of the BBC’s claim to be impartial and trustworthy, which is why I and the board are determined to answer the questions being asked.” The BBC Board is “very exercized” by the scandal and “we will get to the bottom of this and take appropriate actions,” added Shah.

Led by Russell Brand reviewer Peter Johnston, the BBC has commissioned an in-depth investigation into Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone, after it emerged that one of the doc’s narrators is the son of a Hamas minister.

Regulator Ofcom has said it could still step in if it is not satisfied with how the BBC is going about things and Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy has met with Shah and been highly critical of the situation.